What is a Top 1% Commenter on Reddit?
Leadhoot teamOctober 30, 20263 min read
The small badge next to a username means that person earned more karma in that subreddit recently than 99% of its members.
Top 1% Commenter is a badge Reddit shows next to a username inside one subreddit. It means that user's comments earned more karma in that community over a recent period than almost everyone else's. Top 1% Poster is the same idea for posts. The badge belongs to one subreddit only, it is recalculated regularly, and moderators can turn it off for their community.
How the badges work
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What earns it | Karma from your comments (or posts) in that subreddit, compared with other members |
| Where it shows | Next to your name, only in that subreddit |
| How long it lasts | Until the next recalculation. Stop contributing and it goes away |
| Can it be turned off | Yes, moderators can disable it for their subreddit |
| Is it the same as total karma | No. Someone with little overall karma can be a top 1% commenter in a small subreddit |
Is it hard to get?
In a small or quiet subreddit, a few well-received comments a week can be enough. In a subreddit with millions of members it takes a steady stream of upvoted comments. Because it is relative to that community, it says more about how active and useful you are there than your total karma does.
Why it matters if you sell on Reddit
Readers trust a recommendation from a top commenter more than one from a new account, and moderators are slower to remove it. The way to get the badge and the way to get clients is the same: answer questions in the subreddits your buyers use, early and completely. Keep self-promotion inside the 9:1 rule.
See the questions worth answering in your subreddits as they are posted.
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